Control means for stunt vehicles

ABSTRACT

An airplane toy which includes a motor held in a housing resting on the ground and a flexible shaft device connecting the motor to an airplane to drive the airplane propeller. The housing that holds the motor also has an actuator coupled through the flexible shaft device to elevators on the airplane, for pivoting the elevators to make the airplane dive or climb, the actutor sliding the sheath of the flexible shaft device relative to its shaft to operate a mechanism on the airplane that pivots the elevators.

United States Patent [1 1 Chang [451 July 3,1973

[ CONTROL MEANS FOR STUNT VEHICLES [75 Inventor: Richard S. Chang, Rolling Hills Estates, Calif.

[73] Assignee: Mattel, Inc., Hawthorne, Calif.

[22] Filed: Dec. 16, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 208,663

46/76 R, 76 A, 77, 78, 243 M, 243 AV, 243 MV, 243 LV. 243 P, 243 S, 243 E, 244 R, 244 A, 244 B, 244 C, 244 D [56] I References Cited l/197l Hunt 272/31 A FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,094,088 12/1954 France 46/210 Primary Examiner-Anton O. Oechsle Assistant Examiner-Arnold W. Kramer Attorney-Seymour A. Scholnick [5 7] ABSTRACT An airplane toy which includes a motor held in a housing resting on the ground and a flexible shaft device connecting the motor to an airplane to drive the airplane propeller. The housing that holds the motor also has an actuator coupled through the flexible shaft device to elevators on the airplane, for pivoting the elevators to make the airplane dive or climb, the actutorsliding the sheath of the flexible shaft device relative to its UNITED STATES PATENTS shaft to operate a mechanism on the airplane that piv- 1,802,139 4/1931 Dacey, Jr.. 272/31 A Qts th levat r 1,808,015 6/1931 Buchanan-Wollaston 46/210 2,523,902 I 9/1950 Effinger, Jr. 272/31 A UX 7 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures I 1e 64 E 5.1;: ""i' I I 1 1 m W l i 1 0 I 3'4 L .0. h ii n 10 r 41 K I I l 40 40 36 r r at J 9 ea -4 11/ l 11 V Patented July 3, 1973 3,743,279

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented July 3, 1973 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 3, 1973 3,743,279

3 Sheets-Sheet Z This invention relates to toys and more particularly to remotely operated vehicle toys.

One type of flying toy airplane flies at the outer end of a tether that has an inner end mounted on a housing which is held in the hand'or on the ground. It has been found that the airplane can be lightened by using a flexible shaft coupling as the tether and mounting the motor in the control housing and coupling it through the flexible shaft device to the propeller in the airplane. The control of the airplane flight can be accomplished by utilizing additional tether lines to control the pitch of the airplane, but this requires flying of the airplane so that the lines are taut and also results in a more artificial operation in that the airfoil surfaces of the aircraft do not control the flight direction. It is possible to twist the sheath of the flexible shaft to control the aircraft, but this is also artificial and often not highly effective. It is also possible to employ electrically operated relays in the airplane for controlling the airfoil surfaces and to utilize electrical wires extending along the flexible shaft and connected to electrical controls in the control housing, but this results in considerable added expense.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a simple toy aircraft system is provided which includes an airplane with a propeller for driving it and with elevators that can be remotely controlled to pivot up and down so as to control the flight of the airplane in a realistic manner. The system includes a remote housing designed to rest on the ground and which includes a motor that is coupled to the airplane propeller through a flexible shaft device that includes a flexible shaft surrounded by a flexible sheath. An actuator on the remote housing slides the sheath of the flexible coupling relative to the shaft thereof, while a mechanism on the airplane translates such sliding into pivoting of elevators of the airplane. By rotating the shaft of the flexible coupling to transmit rotary power, and sliding the sheath relative to the shaft to transmit control forces, the apparatus provides a very simple yet realistically controllable airplane system.

The housing from which the flexible coupling extends is in the form of a pylon that is designed to rest on the ground or a table top. An additional control box is connected by a long control cable to the pylon so that a child can control the motor speed and elevators of the airplane from a position outside its circle of flight. The control box has a pitch control lever than can be pivoted to make the airplane climb or dive. The pitch control lever can move an actuator on the pylon that slides the sheath of the flexible coupling which leads to the airplane, to move the airplane elevators. The control box also has a seped control lever that operates a rheostat to control current to the motor, and thus to control the speed at which the motor drives the propeller.

The flexible shaft device connecting the pylon to the airplane supplies a small spring force tending to lift the airplane. While this force may be small, any variation of it as the airplane flies in a circle could interfere with smooth controllable flight. The motor in the pylon is oriented with its motor shaft extending vertically so that there is a minimal variation in lift of the airplane by the flexible coupling as the airplane flies in a circle.

The elevator control mechanism on the airplane is connected to the sheath of the flexible coupling by a link that is free to rotate relative to the sheath so that twisting of the sheath does not affect the flight of the airplane.

The novel features of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention will be best understood from the following description whenread in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a toy aircraft system constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1, and also showing mechanism in the airplane;

FIG. 3 is a view taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2, showing the pylon and control box;

FIG. 4 is a view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of a remotely driven and controlled toy racing car constructed in accordance with the invention; and

FIG. 6 is a partial plan view of the car of FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 illustrates a toy aircraft system which includes an airplane 10, a pylon control box or pylon 12 and a remote control box 14. The airplane 10 has a propeller 16 that is rotated to pull the plane through the air and has elevators 18 that can be pivoted up and down to change the pitch of the airplane to make it dive or climb. An electric motor located in the pylon l2 drives the propeller l6 and an actuator located in the pylon 12 controls the position of the elevators 18. The power for rotating the propeller and the forces for moving the elevators are transmitted through a flexible coupling 20 that extends from the pylon 12 to the airplane 10. The speed at which the motor rotates and movements of the elevator-controlling actuator are manually controlled by operation of levers 22 and 23 that are located on the control box 14, the control box being coupled to the pylon by a control box coupling 24.

Referring also to FIG. 2, the pylon 12 includes a housing 26 with several legs 28 for stably supporting the housing on a support surface such as the ground or a table top. A motor 29 is mounted within the pylon housing so that the motor shaft extends vertically. The flexible coupling 20 that connects the pylon to the airplane includes a flexible shaft 30 and a flexible sheath 32 that surrounds the shaft. An inner end of the coupling 20 extends through a hole 34 at the top of the pylon and vertically down into the pylon housing. The inner end of the flexible shaft 30 is fixed to the motor shaft by a connector 36. The inner end of the sheath 32 is mounted for pivoting abouta vertical axis on a tube 38 that is slideably mounted for up and down movement. As best shown in FIG. 3, the tube 38 has a pair of pins 40 that are engaged by yokes 42 which are pivotally mounted at 44 on a bracket 46 of the pylon housing. As the yokes 42 pivot they move the tube 38 up and down, and therefore slide the sheath 32 of the flexible coupling relative to the shaft 30 of the coupling.

The outer end of the flexible coupling 20 is connected to mechanisms in the airplane to drive and control it, as shown in FIG. 2. The outer end of the shaft 30 extends through a tube 48 on the airplane and has an extreme outer end fixed by a nose 49 to the propeller 16. Thus, rotation of the shaft 30 by the motor in the pylon results in rotation of the airplane propeller 16. The outer end of the sheath 32 is coupled through a mechanism 50 that translates sliding movement of the sheath 32 relative to its shaft 30, into pivoting of the elevators 18 that control the airplane flight. The mechanism 50 includes a link 52 which has one end connected to a bushing 54 on the sheath and another end connected to a bell crank 56 in the airplane. Another arm of the bell crank is connected by a rod 58 to a bracket 60 on one of the elevators 18, the elevators being fixed to one another so they both pivot. When the sheath 32 slides relative to the shaft 30, the bell crank is pivoted and the rod 58 moves the elevators up and down. A spring 62 tends to pivot the bell crank 56 in one direction that pushes the sheath 32 towards the py- Ion. The spring minimizes backlash that would allow the elevators to flap, and also results in the sheath always being under compression loading. The loading of the sheath in compression is desireable because this means that the thin shaft 30 is always in tension. The link 52 of the elevator-operating mechanism is in the form of a wire with an outer end 64 formed in a loop.

The busing 54 is fixed to the sheath 32 and has a groove for receiving the loop end 64 of the link. The link can be quickly'installed on the bushing 54 or removed therefrom by bending apart the ends of the loop. This enables rapid installation and removal of the airplane, so that another airplane can be flown on the same drive and control mechanism. The looped end 64 of the link engages the bushing 54 so that it slides with it along the axis of the flexible coupling 20, but can rotate relative to the sheath about the axis of the flexible coupling. As a result, any twisting of the sheath 32 is not transmitted to the airplane and does not affect the flight characteristics of the airplane. Of course, a rotatable coupling could be placed anywhere along the sheath 32 to connect two portions of it so they can rotate relative to one another.

The remote control box 14 holds batteries, indicated at 66 in FIG. 3, that are connected through a potentiometer or rheostat 68 to power the electric motor 29 in the pylon. The battery and potentiometer are connected by a pair of wires 70, 72 that run along the control box coupling 24 to the motor 29. When a child pivots the speed control handle 23 forward, the handle moves rheostat and thereby increases the electrical power supplied to the motor to increase the airplane speed. When a child pivots the pitch control lever 22 about an axle 76, a wire 78 is moved that extends along the coupling 24 that leads to the pylon 12. An opposite end of the wire 78 is connected to the yokes 42 that can shift the sheath 32 that operates the airplane elevators. When a child moves the control lever 22 in the forward direction of arrow F, he causes the wire 78 to be pulled, causing pivoting of the yokes 42 to push up the sheath 32, and thereby lower the airplane elevators 18 to cause the airplane to dive. Pivoting of the control lever 22 in the opposite direction raises the elevators which causes the plane to climb.

The flexible coupling 20 that extends from the pylon 12 to the airplane is constructed with a sheath and shaft of resilient material. While it is often preferable to rotate the shaft while the sheath does not rotate or rotates slower, it is possible to rotate the sheath if desired. The aircraft system can be constructed with a single box held in the hand instead of a pylon and separate control box, although control then may be more difficult.

The flight of the airplane is largely aerodynamically controlled in much the same way as a real airplane. The airplane is driven solely by the propeller 16 and its speed is adjusted by adjusting the speed of the propeller which is similar to the way speed is often controlled for real airplanes. The pitch attitude of the airplane is controlled by moving airfoils on the airplane, which is the way in which real airplanes are controlled. The effect on pitch of a given elevator movement depends upon airplane speed as in the case of real airplanes, and the overall effect is highly realistic.

The motor 29 is preferably driven in a direction which causes it to urge the flexible coupling 20 to lead the airplane in its flight about the pylon. In FIG. 1, the

motor preferably rotates counterclockwise as seen from above, so that frictional drag on the sheath tends to turn it counterclockwise to lead the airplane. This tends to steer the airplane 10 outwardly from the circle of flight, resulting in the coupling remaining taut. If the motor turned in the opposite direction, so that the coupling 20 lagged behind the airplane, it would tend to steer the airplane radially inwardly towards the pylon, and the airplane could not be controlled as well. It may be noted that the length of the coupling member 20 can be altered by tying a portion of it in a loop to shorten it, to thereby alter the radius of the circle of airplane flight. While this increases friction, the coupling still functions to transmit rotational power to the propeller and to transmit movements that pivot the airplane elevators.

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate a toy automobile system constructed in a manner similar to the toy aircraft system, including a toy automobile 100, a pylon 102 and a control box 104. The control box 104 and pylon 102 are similar to that of the aircraft system although only a single joy stick control lever 126 is provided on the control box. The toy automobile has a single drive sheel 106 and a single steerable wheel 108, which are mounted on a chassis 110. In addition, the auto has four other wheels 112 which can rotate, but which are supported so that they lie a slight distance above the drive and steerable wheels so they can keep the car upright without tending to steer it. A flexible coupling 114 which includes a sheath 116 and shaft 118 couples the pylon 102 to the automobile 100. The shaft 118 is connected to the wheel 106 that drives the vehicle along a roadway. The sheath 116 is coupled by a link 119 to a yoke 1120 that is pivotally mounted on the chassis about a pivot 122. When the sheath 116 is slid relative to the flexible shaft 118, the yoke 120 pivots and turns the steerable wheel 108 to change the direction of vehicle movement.

The auto 100 is designed to run along a roadway that extends in a loop. The remote control box 104 may be set up outside the looped roadway with the connecting cable 124 extending beneath the roadway. A child can control the speed of the auto and also steer it. This enables a child to test his ability in racing and steering the auto. Steering is accomplished by pivoting the handle 126, while speed is controlled by the amount of depression of a button 128 that operates a rheostat in the handle. If desired, the handle 126 on the control box can be replaced with a steering wheel to more realistically control the direction of auto movement.

Thus, the invention provides a toy vehicle which can be driven and controlled through a single, simple elongated coupling. A toy aircraft system is provided which includes an airplane that is driven by a propeller and controlled by movement of airfoil surfaces in much the same way as a real airplane. The airplane is connected to the elongated coupling in a manner that avoids the transmission of twisting forces, and the coupling initially extends vertically from the pylon, so that the airplane can fly in smooth circles about the pylon and can be closely controlled by movement of the airplane elevators.

Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated herein, it is recognized that modifications and variations may readily occur to those skilled in the art and, consequently, it is intended that the claims be interpreted to cover such modifications and equivalents.

What is claimed is:

l. A toy vehicle system comprising:

a toy vehicle having a rotary propelling member for driving it and having a controllable mechanism;

stationary control means supported independently of said vehicle, said control means having a drive means with an output and having a movable actuator;

an elongated flexible coupling including a sheath and a shaft rotatably mounted within said sheath;

means coupling the drive means output to a first end of said shaft;

means coupling said rotary propelling member to a second end of said shaft;

means coupling said actuator to a first end of said sheath for sliding the same along said shaft; and

means rotatably coupling said controllable mechanism to a second end of said sheath to permit relative rotation about an axis coincident with said shaft, for operating said controllable mechanism in response only to sliding of said sheath relative to said shaft.

2. The toy vehicle system described in claim 1 wherein:

said vehicle comprises an aircraft for flying in the air and said rotary propelling member includes a propeller; and

said means rotatably coupling said controllable mechanism on said vehicle to said sheath includes a member fixed to said second end of said sheath, a link having a first end rotatably mounted on said member to enable realtive rotation of said sheath wtih respect to said link about the axis of said sheath while resisting relative longitudinal movement of said sheath and link end along said axis, and means coupled to said link for controlling a flight characteristic of the aircraft, whereby to isolate the mechanism for controlling aircraft flight from any twisting or resistance to twisting of the sheath.

3. The toy vehicle system described in claim 1 wherein:

said means rotatably coupling said controllable mechanism to a second end of said sheath includes a bushing with a groove said busing being fixed to said sheath, and a link having an end portion looped about said groove in said bushing, said looped end portion being resilient to enable it to be forcefully opened to disengage from said bushing.

4. The toy vehicle system described in claim 1 wherein:

said vehicle comprises an airplane for flying in the air and said rotary propelling member includes a propeller mounted to move said airplane in a predetermined forward direction so that it can fly in circles about said control means;

said sheath and shaft initially extend in a substantially vertical direction from said control means; and

said motor rotates the portion of said shaft that extends vertically from said control means in a rotatioal direction which is the same as the direction of movement of said airplane when it flies in a forward direction in circles about said control means, whereby said flexible coupling is urged in a direction to lead rather than lag said airplane in circular flight.

5. A toy vehicle system comprising:

a toy vehicle having a driving member and having, a

controllable mechanism;

a stationary housing supported independently of said vehicle;

a drive means on said housing;

an elongated coupling which includes a shaft and a sheath therearound, said shaft having opposite ends respectively connected to said drive means and driving member;

an actuator movably mounted on said housing for sliding said sheath relative to said shaft;

first means coupling said actuatorto said sheath to enable actuator-controlled sliding of said sheath relative to said shaft; and

second means coupling said controllable mechanism to an end of said sheath opposite said actuator, for transmitting longitudinal sheath movement to said mechanism, at least one of said means being rotatably coupled to said sheath to permit relative rotation about an axis coincident with said shaft.

6. The toy vehicle system described in claim 5 wherein:

said second means coupling said controllable mechanism to said sheath includes means defining a groove about the axis of said sheath, and a resilient link with an end portion formed into a loop to rest in said groove, said looped end portion of said link having loop ends that can be resiliently spread apart to disengage from said groove.

7. A toy aircraft system comprising:

an aircraft having a propeller and having a movable airfoil member for interacting with air flowing past the aircraft to alter the flight of the aircraft;

a stationary control housing supported independently of said aircraft;

a motor mounted on said housing;

an elongated coupling which includes a shaft and a sheath therearound, said shaft having opposite ends respectively connected to said motor and propeller;

a movable actuator mounted on said housing and connected to one end of said sheath, forsliding said sheath relative to said shaft; and

linking means mounted on said airplane coupling the end of said sheath opposite said actuator to said airfoil member to move it as said sheath is slid by said actuator but permitting rotation of said sheath relative to said linking means, said linking means including a spring urging said sheath toward said actuator relative to said shaft, whereby to maintain said sheath in compression and said shaft in ten- 

1. A toy vehicle system comprising: a toy vehicle having a rotary propelling member for driving it and having a controllable mechanism; stationary control means supported independently of said vehicle, said control means having a drive means with an output and having a movable actuator; an elongated flexible coupling including a sheath and a shaft rotatably mounted within said sheath; means coupling the drive means output to a first end of said shaft; means coupling said rotary propelling member to a second end of said shaft; means coupling said actuator to a first end of said sheath for sliding the same along said shaft; and means rotatably coupling said controllable mechanism to a second end of said sheath to permit relative rotation about an axis coincident with said shaft, for operating said controllable mechanism in response only to sliding of said sheath relative to said shaft.
 2. The toy vehicle system described in claim 1 wherein: said vehicle comprises an aircraft for flying in the air and said rotary propelling member includes a propeller; and said means rotatably coupling said controllable mechanism on said vehicle to said sheath includes a member fixed to said second end of said sheath, a link having a first end rotatably mounted on said member to enable realtive rotation of said sheath wtih respect to said link about the axis of said sheath while resisting relative longitudinal movement of said sheath and link end along said axis, and means coupled to said link for controlling a flight characteristic of the aircraft, whereby to isolate the mechanism for controlling aircraft flight from any twisting or resistance to twisting of the sheath.
 3. The toy vehicle system described in claim 1 wherein: said means rotatably coupling said controllable mechanism to a second end of said sheath includes a bushing with a groove said bushing being fixed to said sheath, and a link having an end portion looped about said groove in said bushing, said looped end portion being resilient to enable it to be forcefully opened to disengage from said bushing.
 4. The toy vehicle system described in claim 1 wherein: said vehicle comprises an airplane for flying in the air and said rotary propelling member includes a propeller mounted to move said airplane in a predetermined forward direction so that it can fly in circles about said control means; said sheath and shaft initially extend in a substantially vertical direction from said control means; and said motor rotates the portion of said shaft that extends vertically from said control means in a rotational direction which is the same as the direction of movement of said airplane when it flies in a forward direction in circles about said control means, whereby said flexible coupling is urged in a direction to lead rather than lag said airplane in circular flight.
 5. A toy vehicle system comprising: a toy vehicle having a driving member and having, a controllable mechanism; a stationary housing supported independently of said vehicle; a drive means on said housing; an elongated coupling which includes a shaft and a sheath therearound, said shaft having opposite ends respectively connected to said drive means and driving member; an actuator movably mounted on said housing for sliding said sheath relative to said shaft; first means coupling said actuator to said sheath to enable actuator-controlled sliding of said sheath relative to said shaft; and second means coupling said controllable mechanism to an end of said sheath opposite said actuator, for transmitting longitudinal sheath movement to said mechanism, at least one of said means being rotatably coupled to said sheath to permit relative rotation about an axis coincident with said shaft.
 6. The toy vehicle system described in claim 5 wherein: said second means coupling said controllable mechanism to said sheath includes means defining a groove about the axis of said sheath, and a resilient link with an end portion formed into a loop to rest in said groove, said looped end portion of said link having loop ends that can be resiliently spread apart to disengage from said groove.
 7. A toy aircraft system comprising: an aircraft having a propeller and having a movable airfoil member for interacting with air flowing past the aircraft to alter the flight of the aircraft; a stationary control housing supported independently of said aircraft; a motor mounted on said housing; an elongated coupling which includes a shaft and a sheath therearound, said shaft having opposite ends respectively connected to said motor and propeller; a movable actuator mounted on said housing and connected to one end of said sheath, for sliding said sheath relative to said shaft; and linking means mounted on said airplane coupling the end of said sheath opposite said actuator to said airfoil member to move it as said sheath is slid by said actuator but permitting rotation of said sheath relative to said linking means, said linking means including a spring urging said sheath toward said actuator relative to said shaft, whereby to maintain said sheath in compression and said shaft in tension. 